Environmental Justice is the belief that all people, regardless of
race, ethnicity, or economic standing, deserve to live, work, and play in
a healthy environment. -- Environmental Justice Group, the University of
Michigan.

Special survey of municipal waste sites conducted in 1995. Report
includes statistics. Concludes that there is no difference in population
living near non-hazardous landfills but minorities tend to live near
hazardous landfills. More research needed on health effects of hazardous
landfills on minorities. Additional GAO Reports available through
GPO
Access

Search by name of facility, address (zip code, county and state) or chemical to obtain list of information the amount of pollution generated by type of pollution. By going back to the main page, you can order a complete map with street names and
facility information. For the most part, it is easier to use the Chemical Scorecard
listed below.

Ranks states, counties and zip codes by amount of chemical
pollution. The top 100 counties and zip codes are ranked for both the
U.S. and individual states. Click on area to obtain data on pollution by chemical or health effect. Includes maps of an area and
reports on individual polluters. Lists street address and zip code
of facility. Example of
map

EPA's priorities for toxic waste cleanup. Click on state maps to
identify concentrations of polluters. Example. By clicking on a symbol,
you can obtain background information on the polluter. You can also
search the data by address, zip code, or type of problem. The resulting
maps (example) provide
streets but not street names. Links to the individual polluter.

Street Maps

Detailed street mapping and directions. Clear street names. If
the National Priorities List hasn't given you a street address, you can
search the Yellow Pages for the address, zip
code, and a brief map. Example of city map.

Map Libraries

Large university and public libraries usually have
specialists in geography, maps, and computerized mapping (GIS). CD-ROM
mapping programs often have a combination of environmental
identifiers as well as census mapping.

Written by Julie Linden, University of Massachusetts, 1998.
Government mapping program specifically meant for tracking environmental
and population data. Includes street names of Census tract and
block group boundaries. Available at many federal depository libraries.
Example of Block Group
Map.

Key factors to research: race, the elderly, poverty,
unemployment,
home value, ability to speak English, migration, vacancy rates. The
Census does not cover deaths in a given year or individual
disabilities.

Notes on the data:

Races are white, black, Asian, American Indian and other.

Hispanic is not a race so is usually covered in a separate table.

Labor force participation includes people who have jobs or want them.
Reasons for not participating in the labor force include age, disability,
family matters, retirement, school enrollment, etc.

Unemployment is calculated by dividing the people who want jobs but
don't have them by the labor force.

Income is calculated for households (families, people living alone,
people living together but not related), families (related by blood or
marriage), individuals, and per capita (including children).

Median = half below level and half above level; mean = average.

Poverty rates are calculated by the Census Bureau using the family
income and size of the family.

General Population Characteristics provides
the most detail on age, race, sex, marital status, and household relationship.
There is one report for each state with data for states, counties, cities and
townships. Social and Economic Characteristics has
state reports with data for the state, counties, and cities of 2500+.
It details education, occupation, employment, industry, commuting, disability,
income, poverty, foreign born, ability to speak English, ethnicity, and
residence five years ago. Example
of Table Finding Guide

12. 1990 Census of Housing.

General Housing Characteristics provides owner v.
renter occupancy, vacancy rates, housing value, and rent paid. There is
one report for each state with data for counties and places of 1000+.
Detailed Housing Characteristics covers age of homes,
mortgage characteristics, rent as a percent of income, sewage, fuels,
telephone availability. There is one report for each state with data for
places of 2500+. Example of Table
Finding Guide

13. 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Census Tracts.

One report for each Metropolitan Statistical Area with 100% and
sample data for the metro area, counties, large cities, and individual census tracts. Includes age, race, marital status, income, poverty, education, language, housing value or
rent, age of homes, commuting, and residence five years ago.
Separate tables repeat data for race if more than 400 people of that
race live in a given census tract. Example of Table. A table
finding guide identifies individual pages.

To use the reports effectively, it is necessary to identify a census tract number of interest. This can be done in several ways:

Both population and housing variables for states, counties, cities and townships, census tracts, and block groups. Available at most federal depository libraries but essentially the same as the Census CD-ROM Lookup.

Data prior to 1990 is primarily available in paper copy at federal depository libraries. See above for lists of libraries. The structure is similar to 1990: a Census of Population, a Census of Housing, and Census Tract reports.

Special notes

There is no readily-available block group data prior to 1990.

Census tracts are often redefined or renumbered. You need to look at the maps for each Census. Usually the printed tract volume will provide comparability with previous censuses.

Household income was a new concept in 1980. Family income was commonly used through 1970.

Until 1980, races in tables were listed as White, Negro, and other.

Poverty was a new concept in 1970.

It is extremely important to compare economic data (a city, a tract)
with the county and state to adjust for inflation. You can also adjust
for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm but it is much less accurate. The average salary in 1950 was $3400. The inflation rate (442%) suggests a 1990 salary of $15,000 but the average salary was actually $33
,000.

Annual printed publication with the latest edition 1992. Volume 2B provides death statistics by over 70 causes for counties and cities of 10,000+. It is important to compare your county population size with Census data.

Includes Medicare data on disease treated by type for individual
hospitals.

26. Local Sources

Interviews with neighborhood residents may be the best way to spot
hidden problems, such as a large number of rare childhood cancers.
Another alternative would be local newspaper files. Editor and Publisher
identifies newspapers and provides web links when available.

Telephone numbers of federal agencies and links to their online
directories. This can be supplemented by a list of agency web sites
through Louisiana State University, http://www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/fedgov.html